On the heels of its victory in the arbitration case against China, the Philippines must lead the other claimant states in exploring ways to reinforce the ruling by “improving both the national and regional fisheries management agenda” in Southeast Asia, an expert said. This agenda can include establishing transboundary marine parks, areas of joint protection, or “no-take zones,” a setup that can work in the 100 or so small islands and reefs in the hotly contested Spratly islands, said Ma. Carmel Ablan Lagman of De La Salle University’s Center for Natural Resource and Environment Research. Based on ecological considerations, such as the duration of pelagic larvae, surface circulation patterns, and seasonability of adults and larvae, the Spratlys are among the few remaining healthy, resource-rich areas and habitats in the West Philippine Sea and can thus benefit from multistate intervention.

Establish 'no-take zone' in Spratlys, gov't urged. (2017, April 22). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.